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Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

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  • UNESCO

Belgium

Look up to see freedom

Look up to see freedom

The belfries of Belgium were erected over centuries, all with slightly different designs. But they all represented the same thing – a democratic freedom not seen here before.

Under repair

Under repair

It’s been closed for years and will be closed for many more. But you can still see some of the World Heritage Site of Tournai Cathedral.

Behind closed doors

Behind closed doors

These four houses in the Belgian capital of Brussels have been included on the World Heritage List – but does that mean you can see them?

The old coal mines of Belgium

The old coal mines of Belgium

In Belgium’s Wallonia region, the coal mines may have shut but their legacy lives on. Go underground – and see how life was for families on the surface.

The grand marketplace of Brussels

The grand marketplace of Brussels

There’s something different about this city square – and it’s partly why the Grand Place is the most popular tourist attraction in Brussels.

An elevator for boats

An elevator for boats

These old metal contraptions on the Belgian canal look strange – but they are actually an ingenious invention. See how the four lifts work:

How printing changed forever

How printing changed forever

It was the largest printing press in Europe in the 16th century and one of the best preserved. Why you should visit Belgium’s Plantin-Moretus Museum!

In Bruges

In Bruges

Bruges is one of the prettiest cities in Belgium. So what do I discover when I set out to explore its streets?

When our heritage is not public

When our heritage is not public

It’s listed as a World Heritage Site, an example of influential architecture in Europe. That should mean you could see Stoclet House in Brussels, right?

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